Chapter 46: A Reconciled Return

Song Wenbin waited outside for a while. When Xu Hengzhou didn’t emerge, he assumed the boy was avoiding him. Consequently, he stepped inside to search for him.

Instead, he found his two nephews huddled together. The elder was cupping the younger’s ears, trying to help him sleep soundly.

Song Wenbin stood at the doorway, observing them quietly for a moment. Then, he silently backed out.

He took his lunchbox to the sink to wash it. A woman, the grandmother of the little girl in the bed next to Xiang Chen’s, approached to get hot water.

The water wasn’t ready yet, so the auntie placed her thermos aside. She struck up a conversation with Song Wenbin.

“Director Song, is the child who just came in your eldest?”

Song Wenbin nodded. “Yes, my eldest.”

“He’s really handsome,” the auntie praised. “Both your children are good-looking, and they have such good temperaments.”

Upon hearing this, Song Wenbin recalled the scene he had just witnessed. He couldn’t help but smile faintly. “They are quite good.”

The auntie, waiting for the water to boil and having nothing else to do, sought to chat. After glancing around to ensure no one else was nearby, she couldn’t resist complaining to Song Wenbin.

“Your children are so well-behaved. Look at the one next door—I heard he’s a year older than your youngest, yet he still can’t even feed himself. Yesterday, he even soiled his pants! He’s such a big child; his family really needs to teach him better.”

Song Wenbin’s hand paused on the faucet. He didn’t care much for that child either. Not for any other reason, but because the boy had woken up in the middle of the night, demanding eggs, and had wailed all night, preventing his own children from sleeping well.

The auntie continued her incessant chattering. “You arrived late, so you don’t know the situation. Actually, their child just had a common cold and fever; he recovered ages ago, but they’re still lingering in the hospital. That old woman in their family insisted the doctor issue a certificate for malnutrition, all for the complimentary brown sugar eggs the hospital provides without needing a ticket.”

Song Wenbin paused, taking a moment to grasp the auntie’s meaning. At their factory hospital, if a worker or their family member was admitted, charges were rarely made, as the factory covered most medical expenses.

Furthermore, many people suffered from malnutrition during that era. If a doctor’s certificate was provided, a bowl of brown sugar eggs was given daily, requiring money but no ration ticket—a truly rare and beneficial offering.

Xiang Chen was hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis. He had been forbidden from eating anything yesterday and could only consume thin gruel today. Song Wenbin hadn’t immediately considered this detail.

While Song Wenbin didn’t approve of lingering in the hospital after recovery, he refrained from further comment. Every family lacked something good, and if they simply wished to provide for their child, what could he say?

After washing the dishes, Song Wenbin inverted the bowls to drain the water. The auntie next door had also finished drawing her hot water and conveniently walked back with him, carrying her thermos.

Before they even reached the ward door, they could hear the little boy from the neighboring bed wailing at the top of his lungs. There was no specific content, just continuous shouts.

Song Wenbin frowned. His children were still sleeping, and such noise would surely disturb them.

In truth, Xiang Chen had already awakened. Not long after Song Wenbin left, the boy next door began to clamor for brown sugar eggs. However, he had already consumed his portion for the day. The doctors were already displeased with them for lingering in the hospital after recovery.

If it weren’t for his grandmother’s persistent antics, he would have been discharged long ago. Naturally, the doctors wouldn’t issue another certificate for them.

The boy immediately began to cry and fuss. His grandmother, despite knowing others were sleeping in the ward, couldn’t bring herself to scold him. Instead, she held him, coaxing him repeatedly. “My precious, my good grandson, we’ll have sugary eggs again tomorrow…”

The boy thrashed about on the hospital bed. When his grandmother held him, he kicked and struggled. He was a big child now, and his kicks were quite powerful. The old grandmother’s face visibly twitched from the blows, yet she continued to indulge him.

Once the boy realized he truly wouldn’t get any eggs, he immediately began to wail uncontrollably, his voice sharp and piercing, hurting everyone’s ears.

The little girl beside them shrank into her mother’s embrace. Even Xu Hengzhou’s hand couldn’t block the piercing sound. Xiang Chen was quickly roused.

The newly awakened child was still somewhat disoriented, staring blankly at the youth before him. After a long moment, he reached up to rub his eyes, then softly called out, “Brother?”

Having called out, he reached to touch Xu Hengzhou’s face, as if to confirm whether he was truly there or if it was merely a dream.

Xu Hengzhou quickly caught his hand, cradling the small, chubby paw in his palm. He gently squeezed it, his voice soft. “It’s me. Brother’s back.”

Xiang Chen remained in a daze for a while before finally reacting, instinctively breaking into a joyful smile. The next second, as if remembering something, he immediately pulled his hand away, lowering his eyelashes and refusing to speak.

Xu Hengzhou’s palm suddenly felt empty. He instinctively wanted to grip it tighter, his fingers curling before he drew his hand back.

He looked at Xiang Chen, feeling as if he had raised a small kitten. He had left it alone at home, and upon his return, the kitten was angry, swatting at him with its tiny paws. Yet, its soft, fluffy body still pressed tightly against his leg, waiting for him to pick it up and comfort it.

Xu Hengzhou found himself wanting to smile at the thought, but he dared not reveal what was on his mind, lest Xiang Chen, whom he secretly regarded as a little tiger rather than a kitten, perceive it.

Xu Hengzhou’s heart softened further. He simply kicked off his shoes, turned, and lay down beside Xiang Chen, reaching out to embrace him.

Xiang Chen clenched his small fists. He felt an inexplicable reluctance, so he simply kept quiet, adopting an uncooperative demeanor.

Xu Hengzhou didn’t mind. He affectionately leaned his face closer, then lowered his voice. “Brother missed you so much. Didn’t you miss me?”

Xiang Chen finally couldn’t hold back. A blush bloomed on his pale, sickly face, and his voice, though small, couldn’t hide his sadness. “You didn’t miss me! You went so far alone without telling me, and I didn’t know where you were or when you’d be back. What if something happened to you…”

Xu Hengzhou felt a pang of guilt. This was indeed his oversight, stemming from his inherent personality. Before his transmigration, he had been a person of his word, unaccustomed to informing others of his decisions. Others adapted to him; he didn’t consider their feelings.

After transmigrating, he had grown increasingly fond of Xiang Chen, but he still fundamentally viewed Xiang Chen as someone to be protected. He believed the matter hadn’t been settled yet, so there was no need to tell Xiang Chen. However, he had overlooked Xiang Chen’s feelings.

More than just fearing abandonment, Xiang Chen was deeply worried about his safety. He himself didn’t realize how proud he was; despite inhabiting a youthful body, he still felt invincible.

But what about Xiang Chen? The person he relied on most hadn’t returned home when expected, going to a place he didn’t know. The things he was doing weren’t safe. If something truly happened, where would he find him?

Xu Hengzhou was touched by the sadness in Xiang Chen’s words. After a long moment, he softened his voice. “Chenchen, don’t be angry anymore. Brother brought you many good things. You’ll definitely like the new clothes…”

“I don’t want new clothes,” Xiang Chen suddenly interrupted him. “I told you, I…”

Aware that others were in the ward, Xiang Chen didn’t dare speak too explicitly. He paused, then whispered, “I grew up like this. It’s fine if I don’t have new clothes.”

He was never a pampered young master. He had worn other people’s old clothes and eaten stale steamed buns with pickles for a long time. He had grown up stumbling, clinging to the only two relatives he had.

After transmigrating, he had returned to a childhood where he felt powerless. He had no maternal grandparents, but he had his elder uncle and his brother. He could do without fancy clothes and delicious food; he only wished for them all to be well.

Xiang Chen looked at him earnestly for a moment before slowly nodding. “Okay.”

Xu Hengzhou felt a wave of relief. It was good that he wasn’t angry. In truth, his little one was easily appeased, and remarkably well-behaved.

“So good,” Xu Hengzhou said, caressing Xiang Chen’s face. He had grown so thin that Xu Hengzhou didn’t dare pinch his cheeks. “You need to eat more once you’re better.”

Xiang Chen obediently nodded in his embrace. After a moment, he suddenly leaned close to Xu Hengzhou’s ear, whispering softly, “I’m not being good; I just can’t bear to stay angry with you…”

Xu Hengzhou froze for a moment. His arms tightened, and his heart felt as if it had been tapped, then filled with a large jar of honey.

‘My little dumpling must be filled with honey!’ Xu Hengzhou thought silently. ‘So sweet…’

When Song Wenbin rushed in anxiously, this was the scene he witnessed. His two nephews were intimately embracing, seemingly whispering secrets, both smiling. There was no sign of any conflict.

Song Wenbin, who had expected his younger nephew to cause a scene upon his elder nephew’s return, was stunned. What was happening? They had made up already?

“Elder Uncle,” Xiang Chen called out in a soft, childish voice upon seeing Song Wenbin.

Xu Hengzhou looked up, reluctantly giving Xiang Chen another hug before sitting up and putting on his shoes. He then spoke to Song Wenbin. “Elder Uncle, let’s go outside to talk.”

“Alright.” Song Wenbin put down the bowls and chopsticks he was holding. Xu Hengzhou tucked Xiang Chen into bed, then followed Song Wenbin out.

Xiang Chen guessed what they were going to do. His heart fluttered with panic. In those days, adults often resorted to physical discipline for children. His elder uncle wouldn’t hit his brother, would he? Even though his brother had made a mistake, hitting children was wrong.

“Elder Uncle,” he quickly called out to Song Wenbin. Seeing both men stop and look at him, Xiang Chen stammered, “Be… be nice about it…”

Song Wenbin was initially taken aback. Then, realizing Xiang Chen’s meaning, he found himself both exasperated and amused. When the boy was away, Xiang Chen had sulked every day, but now that he was back, a couple of comforting words had him siding with him. How could he be so soft-hearted? What if someone took advantage of him in the future?

Song Wenbin was utterly distressed, but Xu Hengzhou’s heart swelled with delight. He knew his little dumpling cared for him deeply.

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